Purification of petroleum oils



UNITED sures PATENT" OFFICE- JOHN JAMES HOOD, OF LONDON, ENGLAN D,ASSIGNOR TO THE OIL REFINING IMPROVE- MENTS COMPANY, LIMITED, OFGLASGOW, NORTH BRITAIN.

PURIFICATION OF PETROLEUMOILS.

.3570 Drawing.

. nature of" WhlCh .is not exactly known.

Thev may belong to what are classed as the thiophenes or the mercaptans,or occur as sulphides of organic radlcals, and their presence incombustible oils, such as gasolines and lkerosenes, is objectionable,not

only because of their offensive odor, but also ecause during the processof cbmbustion t e-sulphur is more or less converted into sul huric acidor sulphur dioxide.

ach particular variety of these oils appears to have its owncharacteristic sulphur bodies present in the products obtraces of thesebodies,

tained by distillation. oils of Burmah contain .very little or onlywhereas the oils of Persia and Mexico are comparatively rich 1n sulphurcompounds, and in one variety of oil they may accumulate more in thelighter fractions than in the heavier ones, while with another varietyof oil the heavier fractions may contain more sulphur than do thelighter ones. The stability of these ingredients is also ve "variable.Some sufi'er decomposition-during the very act of distillation inseparating the different fractions of gasolines, kerosenes, andlubricating oils; Others of a more stable character pass into theseprepared materials, de-

teriorating their quality, as the tempera- For instance, the

tures at whichthe different distillations.

have been effected have been insuflicient to break up or disassociatethem. That is, the

heatof distillation alone will not decompose such sulphur compounds inoils of this latter class. V According to this invention, an oil isheated sufiiciently to vaporize it, and this vapor, is passedintocontact with certain granular bodies, by which means the sulerallybe Specification of "Letters Patent. Patented J an, 24, 1922.Application filed July 22, 1919. Serial No. 312,613. I

vgen which maybe absorbed by oxide of 6b iron, Weldon mud or othermaterial in the customary manner. If the oil .has been obtained byfractional distillation, the temperatures to which it is heated shouldgengreater than that at which it was 6 distilled. The granulated solidbody which 1 employ is 'by preference ignited and granulated nativemagnesite. This material is contained in a suitable a paratus which 7 mabe in the form of c'y mdrical retorts, and is maintained at a suitabletemperature.

As pointed out above, this temperature depends on the articular oilbeing treated and also on t e stability of the sulphur bodies which areto be broken up or wassociated. In some cases petroleum oils of high.boiling point, such as solar oil or fuel oil, on being passed into.contact with the ignited magnesite maintained at a high temrature,willnot only have the sulphur Eddies contained in them disassociate'd withthe liberation of sulphuretted hydrogen, but the oils themselves will bedecomposed $0. that lighter oils may be obtained. p The followingexample of procedure. within the sco e of the invention is given.

A Persian 011 distillate having about the boiling point range ofordinary kerosene, and containing a moderate percentage of sulfur, wasvaporized and the vapors assed over ignited magnesite, the latter bemgat a temperature of just above the top of the boilingpoint range of thekerosene treated.

I clalm: I 1. The process of desulphurizing hydrocarbon ,oil whichcomprises vaporizing, the oil, .bringin'g the vapor into contact with iited magnesite to disassociate' the a t, p ur compounds, and passing theresultant ij the vapors over an absorbent of compoundsi 2. The process 0f desulphurizing hydrocarbon oils' which comprises vaporizing the oil,bringing the vapor into contact with ignited magnesite to liberatesulphuretted hydrogen, and removing said sulphuretted hydrolgen.

he process of desulphurizing hydro- 1 carbon oils which comprisesvaporizing the oil, bringing the vapor into contact with ignitedmagnesite at a temperature higher than the distillation temperature ofthe oil to convert the sulphur compounds largely into gaseous form, andthen absorbing said gaseous sulphur compounds.

4. The process of desulphurizing hydrocarbon oils which comprisesvaporizing the oil, bringing the vapor intov'contact with 10 ignitedmagnesite to convert the sulphur compounds largely vinto sulphuretedhydrogen, and passingthe vapors over oxide of H011.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 15 as my invention I have-signedmy name this 25th day of June,'1919.- p

. JOHN JAMES HOOD.

